And we’re back!

Well, it’s been a while, but the re-launch of Nirali Magazine is officially done! We are dying to hear your feedback, so bring it on! And comment on the articles—there is a space at the end of each one. Thanks for reading!

Who Knew Kulfi Could Be Style(.com)ish?

Saffron-flavored kulfi from Kool Freeze.

I’m probably going to get in trouble for saying this, and my authentic “desi-ness” is likely going to be questioned here, but I don’t like kulfi. I never have. I don’t know, something about it is too salty-milky-not-in-a-good-way to me. And kulfi doesn’t come in chocolate. Give me some Stroh’s Bumpy Cake and Cream ice cream (a disappearing favorite) over pistachio kulfi or faluda any day.

Still, I was amused to see Kool Freeze’s Kulfi Bars featured as Style.com’s Item of the Week. The Canadian company describes its feature product as a “deliciously rich and creamy … exotic frozen dessert that has its origins in southern Asia” and explains that the Mughal emperors introduced kulfi to the subcontinent. I guess they’re carrying on the tradition and introducing it to the West? And I may have to try this one myself—the Kool Freeze bars come in eight flavors, including mango, saffron and strawberry. Is anyone else with me?

Suphala in NYC Tonight

Suphala is a tabla master.

One of the most interesting people I’ve met through Nirali is tabla player Suphala. If you’re in New York City, you have a chance to see this amazing musician tonight. She’s performing at midnight with cellist David Gotay and violinist Yuko Naito at the Spiegeltent at Fulton Fish Market. After her set, King Britt will take the stage. Tickets are just $15.

New York Magazine writes, “Ultrahip tabla player Suphala shares a bill with King Britt, a D.J whose realm spans from jazz to Afro-tech.” What an endorsement! Go for me and enjoy the show, if only because I’ll be dealing with the unenviable task of moving into a new apartment instead.

Russell Peters: Outsourced!

Russell Peters is Outsourced

I love stand up comedy. I don’t know why. I also love desi stand up… Aziz Ansari, Dan Nainan, Paul Varghese and Russell Peters are among my faves.

Very excited to see the press release today that Russell Peters will be on Comedy Central this Saturday… His one-hour special, called “Russell Peters: Outsourced” will be airing at 11pm as a tie to the release of the special on DVD next Tuesday, August 29th. I’ve watched his Comedy Now! show so many times and I’m really wondering if Saturday’s show will be new material. (And if you haven’t seen his other stuff, watch the above video.) Great to see desi comics on Comedy Central… hopefully more will appear.

Kal Penn Joins Cast of 24

Kal Penn’s star is rising—he’s been everwhere since Nirali interviewed him in September 2004.

Kal Penn has joined the cast of 24, Fox’s Emmy-winning drama about Jack Bauer and his quest to stop the terrorists. I don’t watch the show, but word is that Penn is going to play the recurring role of a man who is involved with a nefarious Muslim leader who “may or may not be plotting a terrorist attack.” (Aside: Oy. I’ve heard good things about the show, but as a Muslim, I’m reluctant to check it out—does it perpetuate stereotypes? Hmm, I may have to rent the DVDs.)

Penn’s star is certainly rising: Not only was he in Superman, he will soon film Harold & Kumar Go to Amsterdam, the follow-up to 2004’s Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle. The Van Wilder sequel is going to be based on Penn’s character Taj and will be called Van Wilder 2: Rise of the Taj. And who can forget his leading role in The Namesake, Mira Nair’s film adaptation of the Jhumpa Lahiri novel, due out this spring.

Looks like Kal Penn is officially in the big leagues. Good thing he still knows how to have fun. Check out his official MySpace profile for some hilarious videos that are somewhat…unexplainable?…but amusing nonetheless. And don’t forget to read our September 2004 feature on Penn himself.

Help Baby Nirali

Help save baby Nirali Naik’s life.

In October 2004, we featured “Hoping for a Match” in which we addressed the dire need for more South Asians to join the bone marrow registry. Megan Jacob, the lovely 22-year-old we profiled in the piece, suffered from Hodgkin’s disease. Alongside receiving chemotherapy treatments, Megan spent much of her time campaigning for South Asians to join the National Marrow Donor Program. Sadly, Megan never received the transplant that could have saved her life—she died in November 2005.

But there are thousands of other South Asians who still need your help. One of them is baby Nirali Naik, an 18-month-old suffereing from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy but needs a marrow transplant from an Indian donor to avoid relapse. Unfortunately, South Asian donors are grossly underrepresented in the donor registry.

But you can help! Join the NMDP registry—you could provide a life-saving match for baby Nirali or numerous others. Remember, bone marrow donation has no long-term side effects. The simple procedure, which entails drawing a bit of blood or getting an oral swab, is free for minority races (such as South Asians).

Check out an upcoming donor drive today.

A Night at the Roxy

One of our talented staffers, Roxanna Kassam, is getting married this weekend. Congrats to her and the soon-to-be “Trusty Husband!” In honor of her impending nuptials, I want to feature two wonderful stories Roxy wrote for us during Nirali’s first run:

“Finding a Thoroughly Modern Male” from our April 2005 issue was one of our most-discussed pieces. Read it again and share your thoughts here. Is Roxy right? Does the successful, modern, progressive South Asian male exist?

After you’re done discussing that one, settle down with a cup of tea. “High Chai” is a gorgeous piece on the ubiquitous South Asian tradition that binds our complex and varied cultures. And where else will you find a recipe for Chai Creme Brulee?

Love Made Visible Gains Visibility

The “guide to living with style” highlights one of Nirali’s most stylish.

Because I am Priya’s number-one fan (or so I’d like to think—I know she has hundreds of them), I’m going to brag about one of Nirali’s very own. The inimitable and incredibly talented Priya Patel, Nirali Magazine’s fabulous designer and connoisseur of all things gorgeous, runs a beautiful design weblog called Love Made Visible. And now, Condé Nast’s equally fabulous Domino magazine thinks so, too: Priya’s site is featured this month as one of Domino’s “Sites We Love.” So stop by her site to congratulate Priya, and stay for the stunning content.

Rise with Anoushka Shankar

Courtesy of Amazon.com

Chicagoans attending the final concert in the city’s Music Without Borders series were treated to performances by talented sitarist Anoushka Shankar and DJ Karsh Kale. I considered myself a lukewarm fan of Indian classical music at best, but after sitting in the open air Pritzker Pavillion of beautiful Millennium Park in the shadow of Anil Kapoor’s Cloud Gate sculpture, the sounds of Kale’s innovative stylings and Shankar’s sitar blended with electronic music quickly changed my mind. I’m going to check out Shankar’s Rise and Kale’s Broken English and I suggest you do the same.

Luella Bartley & M.I.A.

Luella + M.I.A. Photo: David Sims

Fashion Rocks, a supplement to Condé Nast publications this month, has paired fashion with musicians speaking to personal style and the intersection of the two art forms. One article focuses on fashion designers and their personal musical inspiration. UK designer Luella Bartley cites none other than this girl’s favorite, M.I.A. as her musical inspiration.

The two met in 2000 when M.I.A. and Bartley moved to Notting Hill with Justine Friedmann (of Elastica). At that time, Maya was making documentaries and also her own clothes, confections of “bright flourescent fishnet fabrics.” Of M.I.A. Luella says, “She had an unabashed in-your-face craziness that I loved, admired, and identified with.”

How much do I love that these two were once roommates? Watch Fashion Rocks on September 9 on CBS. Although I wish M.I.A. were performing that day, I think it’s a night mostly dominated by the likes of the Pussycat Dolls and Beyoncé.